Biosorption of nickel by brown algae Laminaria Japonica immobilized in calcium alginate

In this study, the brown algae Laminaria Japonica immobilized in calcium alginate was used as a biosorbent for nickel (11) removal from aqueous solutions. The biosorption of nickel ions on the immobilized Laminaria Japonica beads adapted to the aqueous solution of a large pH (4-7) and temperature range. The maximum uptake capacity for nickel ions of the immobilized algae beads is 39.43 mg/g. The experimental results fitted satisfactory to the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models explaining that the sorption of nickel on the sorbents is physical and chemical sorption. The results of the kinetic studies show that the sorption of nickel ions on this algae adsorbent follows pseudo second-order kinetics suggesting the determined step of the biosorption is chemisorption process.